TODAY I BOUGHT: April 2010 - Page 2

An excellent purchase! I wish more people would buy full bottles instead of just sampling.

Received this one in the mail from a fellow BN'er:



I also finally splurged on a full bottle of Le Male. I don't care if everyone and their mother wears it, or hates it. I just love it!

Santal Noble 3.33 oz (new forumulation) and it smells daaaaaaaaaaamn good!
Iris Bleu Gris 3oz (old forumulation) backup bottle
2x AG Tubereuse one for my tuberose-lovin brother and one as a backup. I think this might be my tuberose holygrail

Today I bought a second bottle, 100 ml this time, of Jasper Conran Mister.

A greatly misunderstood and maligned fragrance, but one I happen to think is pretty bloody good.

I recently purchased Kenneth Cole: Reaction Thermal.

So far, it's pretty good. Nothing extraordinary for sure.

I have that set too Jamie, nice!! The parfums are truly much more intense than the EDP and have huge sillage for parfum. Just to let you know, that AG now has refills of the parfum sold seperately for each scent. The 50ml refills are in the same bottle as the set (gold-paintet), but come in a very nice red-velvet cylindrical box that retails for 100 GBP. The SA also told me that there are refills of the parfum that come in standard bottle that are cheaper, but I didn't see them the last time I was there.

EDIT: There is also a Musc Nomade parfum now but I have yet to smell it.

Ordered three days ago, waiting to be shipped.
Mon Parfum - M.Micallef
Ambra Nera - Farmacia SS. Annunziata dal 1561, a blind buy, I can only hope it's as good as they say.
L'eau du Navigateur - L'Artisan Parfumeur
Fougere Bengale - Parfum d'Empire

and samples of Fiore d'Ambra, Ambra Aurea, Kama and George Sand.

Now to get through the waiting for them to arrive.

Was this fate?




I've been looking for Romance Silver for a bit now. Nobody seems to carry it anymore. Well, that's not that surprising as there are not many fragrance retailers nearby... the closest Macy's is 75 miles!

Yesterday my g/f went to the nearest TJ Maxx, about 30 miles away, and I asked her if she'd look for it. Nope, not there.However, she did find some things that she didn't have the money for at the time as she had only brought a tiny bit of cash with her. I suggested we go back today and pick up those things. Despite her just having read to me on the phone what they had the day before I had to go check the fragrances, and what do I see, a couple bottles of Romance Silver which had just been put out today. Woot!

I had to get it. This scent is extremely underrated, imo. It's like a more masculine and luminescent version of Silver Mountain Water. There is a strong grape (some may read it as blackberry) note, coupled with a (for once!) rich but not overwhelming tobacco note, over a base of light woods and a shimmery musk.

I wanted a scent that would harmonize extremely well with warm summer nights spent outside under a bright moon, and I think that is the setting where Romance Silver will perform most magnificently.

Just picked up an expensive monster 240ml bottle of the original formulation of Eau de Patou



I have a cylindrical bottle of Eau de Patou already so this is more like backup. I just love this stuff
so couldn't pass up when I saw a bottle and that too in it's first formulation.
I am done with my fragrance purchases and possibly wouldn't buy anytime soon.

Promises... promises.... :P

Wow at JaimeB's Pure Parfums. 150mls of it!

Thanks, scent, for the information on refills.

I have the Musc Nomade in EdT, and it's probably my least favorite of this mini-line. Perhaps it's more spectacular in the pure perfume.

i discovered today Van Cleef & Arpels pour Homme and LOVED it!!! Later bought a 3.4 oz bottle of it. It's a much better alternative to my already empty vial sample of Trussardi Uomo.

Also picked 3 carded samples:

Guerlain - L'instant PH EDP
Aigner - Evolution
Aigner - Man 2

Today I'm the proud owner of my very first Serge Lutens fragrance! I took the plunge for Vetiver Oriental after hearing a few people mention that it's getting more difficult to find in the spray bottle.


My other recent acquisition is not a purchase but I'm loving it enough that I need to show it off with huge thanks to Nathan Branch and his recent giveaway. It's the Ormonde Jayne Discovery Set! I have lots of discovering to do...

Is that Annick Goutal's Tubereuse? I never hear anyone talk about this one (zero reviews in the BN directory).

I bought 100ml Égoïste today, as a replacement for my old bottle.
And even though I cannot affort it, I also bought 150ml of No. 5 Eau Première.

It's the tuberose underdog! It might be my number 1 tuberose at the moment, and that's saying a lot given I have a lot of other tuberose scents. It's made from the pure Grasse tuberose absolute, probably the only perfume that still has this rare ingredient. Turin's description of it as a rubbery floral is apt but it's so much more than that. It starts out rubbery, unlike any other tuberose on the market, but not rubbery like Bulgari Black or Eau de Fier; rubbery in the floral sense. It's really hard to describe, but it's a pure tuberose; I can't smell any other floral notes unlike Fracas which has neroli and Carnal Flower with its large dose of jasmine. But it has plenty of indole, camphor and weird stuff that make tuberose very unique. If you have ever smelt Caron's Tubereuse (which is my SOTD), this is probably the closest cousin to the Goutal, albiet with much less indole and rubber and without that famous velvety marron-glace Caron base. You have to try it!
PM me, I'll send you a sample!

I bought Creed GIT and Royal Water from Fragrancenet. $234.94 for the two of them. I will let you all know how it turns out.

After chancing upon Dior's Hypnotic Poison in my much preferred 1 oz size, I knew I had to get it.

And today after spending close to an hour at Escentials discussing fragrances with Stacia, folded like a pack of cards and brought home the BMM10 champ, Serge Lutens CHERGUI. It was down to Rousse, Douce Amere & Chergui. Already got my fizzy fix earlier with the Dior, and figured Rousse cinnamon's linearity might wear out its welcome earlier. Finally went ahead with the very first Lutens that floored me at 1st sniff but later confused me with its temperamental moods...

Arrived today - Alt-Innsbruck EDC

Michael Jordan, Animale Animale, Cuba Gold

Another great day.

serge lutens noire
ambre sulltan

malle musc ravageur
noir epices
parfum de terese

bois 1920 extreme

ysl kouros

creed bdp

guerlain shalimar (wife)

serge a la nuit (wife)
hermes eau de mervilles (wife)

Very nice! I love Tea for Two.

Christian Dior Ambre Nuit

Top notes: Pink Pepper, Bergamot
Middle notes: Spices, Turkish Rose
Base notes: Amber, Balsamy Notes, Cedar, Patchouli, Gaiac Wood

I picked up a bottle of Paco Rabanne pour Homme.

It's the current formulation.

It's terrible in longevity and has no power.

Yesterday I purchased my third Serge Lutens frag - Vetiver Oriental. Giddy with anticipation. The first two (MKK & Ambre Sultan) I absolutely adore, so my expectations are pretty high. It was a toss-up betwixt Chergui and VO. Worried i might've made the wrong choice. We'll see. I also ordered a 50ml AdP Colonia (original) a couple of days ago. Gettin' ready for the summer. Can't wait. The Colonia's a blind buy, but I've heard so many good things I'm not concerned. Gonna suck if I don't like it. Oh well. Hopefully one of the two'll work-out.

got this day before, havent worn it enough, but its kinda powdery and fresh at the same time, i guess its good for cool weather. not hot, not too cold, just cool. the box and perfume presentation is great. it comes with a little satchel for the bottle which is neat.

Etro Vetiver. I have been on a quest for stripped-down vetiver-and-patchouli. I have not found that combination in the balance I had hoped, but I know this minimalist, earthy, rooty vetiver suits me, so it will do fine for now.

Regards,
T

This. And I love it.

Go online and search for this:




PR pour Homme Metal Prestige Edition.

I dont know what exactly is in it but it recalls the PRpH i used to know in the 70s-80s. Serious longevity as well. I actually had given up on reformulated PRpH longevity till i got this.

AWESOME!
i want a bottle NOW!
next bottles.. chergui & rose 31

Guerlain Homme Intense - found it today for a KILLER price

Opium Oriental Limited Edition - YSL.




The homme version just doesn't do it for me.

Today has been a good day:
Habit Rouge soap + deo stick
Chanel No 19 vintage parfum purse spray + a refill (the old 6 ml size)
Vol de Nuit vintage parfum, 30 ml tester (which cost me a whopping 69.95!)

Tom Ford - Extreme
Ineke - Field Notes from Paris

Finally took the plunge today and bought a full bottle of Cologne pour le Soir by Maison Francis Kurkdjian. I hereby authorise anyone to put my name alongside those of Dimitri and l'aventurier as one MASSIVE fan of this stuff. What a stunner.

80% full 100ml bottle of Guerlain Eau de Coq from the Basenotes Marketplace. Magnificent juice from another era

I have been looking for private Creed Vintage Tabarome Collection. Could you tell me where to buy? I have been very desperate for this one. My residence is in South Korea, so it would be very helpful if you would like to specify the website or offline location in a detailed fashion. Thank you in advance.

Welcome to the club lol!

I find the perfect occasion to wear it is on chilly nights with a bit of wind.

Parfum d'Empire Yuzu Fou, 100 ml.

Yes! I couldn't believe it, but there it was...

This weekend I bought 3 bottles of Serge Lutens...Miel De bois...Santal Blanc and Gris Clair...A bottle of Cartier Declaration and a bottle of Robert Piguet Bandit...Opps!

L Instant de Guerlain pour Homme EDT 125 ml

75ml bottle Creed Millesime Imperial.

Today I bought Chanel's Egoiste from Sephora. The bottle is 100ml. I have a very good day wearing this beauty.
It smells so fine and seductive, and it has such a good longevity !
I will call this "signature" and "SOTW" (scent of the week).

Jimi Hendrix

LP No.9 for men by Penhaligon's.

I just bought Chanel Allure Pour Homme Sport that I had been wanted forever! Got it for a steal, too.

Encre noire 100ml (quite likable, and quite a bargain).
Bois des Iles 30ml decant (my personal favorite sandalwood fragrance).

a box of a men, has a 1.7 oz frag that i gave to my bro since i already have a 3.4, i kept the deodorant and hair and body wash all for 30 bucks. the box is pretty and it was a steal.

An oriental woody that upon my arrival home and a thorough test ended up being an improved version of soon - to - be - part of perfume history Davidoff's Zino, a product of a local company sold for a mere USD 12 for 3.3 OZ atomizer.

Zino's Pyramid:

Top: [COLOR="rgb(160, 82, 45)"]Lavander, bergamot[/COLOR], clary sage and rosewood
Mid: [COLOR="rgb(160, 82, 45)"]Geranium[/COLOR], jazmine, rosewood, and lily-of-the-valley
Base: [COLOR="rgb(160, 82, 45)"]Patchouly, sandalwood, vanilla[/COLOR] and cedar

Tabaco 1:

Top:[COLOR="rgb(160, 82, 45)"] Lavander, bergamot[/COLOR], orange and mint
Middle: [COLOR="rgb(160, 82, 45)"]Geranium[/COLOR], cilantro, vetyver and cardamom
Base: [COLOR="rgb(160, 82, 45)"]Patchouly, sandalwood, vanilla[/COLOR] and nutmeg

As per comments, it would seem Zino met Serge, for the final product is more syrupy and sweeter than Zino: in this last one, there is an acrid note that I think might be the result of the rosewood. This is absent in Tabaco, the acridness replaced by syrup-like notes which to my nose could be related to sweetened cinnamon.

The company sells eight fragrances targetted to men under the concept that their style is formal as well as traditional. So far, I tested three of them, non were a dissapointment. The funny point is that all of them have the same brandname, their only difference being the colours of the box's wrap.

Of these, the one I bought made the SA ask me if I were sure about my decision ("Are you positively sure you will take it?"), until he remembered my preferences for not-so-common scents. Yes, it is one that makes you think, "no, they don't make them like that anymore" and "well, I have peculiar tastes for what is in fashion nowadays".

It's been on my list for a long time. Me and my girlfriend were in Penhaligon's in Covent Garden on Saturday and she smelt it on me and sort of melted in ecstacy, so it was a no brainer really! She's fallen in love with the women's version, so I guess I'll be buying that next for her!

You were so right mate....I couldn't keep my promise for more than a few days....It's just shameful....

What is not shameful is that I finally managed to secure a vintage bottle of MPG Santal Noble.
I just hope it arrives without any leakage now.

Over the past month, I gave my entire wardrobe a makeover by selling a total of close to 30 full bottles. The funds I raised have now all been used. Here's what I got:


PART 1: An Arabian Scent Ensemble for Personal Indulgence




First off, out of coincidence (or fate), I was able to give a BN veteran's pure oud oil collection a new home half way across the world. (Thanks Eric!)

A bit out of place in front of the PG Private Collection bottles, but since the taking of this photo, I've been arranging a shelf that is dedicated fully to Arabian / Eastern oils, attars, oudhs, and mukhallats. Sorry, if I am sounding too self-indulgent, but I'm actually quite excited. I am going to order an oud burner, some cheap agar wood chips, and will make a display that will surely impress visitors while remaining functional.

[Oriscent]
1. Blue Brunei - Sweet, fruity, floral oud distilled exclusively from Brunei agarwood.
2. Malay Royale - A potent camphoraceous oud that is deep and slightly sweet.
3. Chinese Exclusive - Pungent. Very pungent.
4. Purple Papua - Typical Merauke with added depth. A metallic mineral mud cloth vibe oud.
5. Archipelago - Sweet and ethereal Indonesian oud mix.
6. Black Assam - A Hindi oud that is dark in both color and scent.

[Oudimentary]
1. KSSS - A popular Cambodi oud that is deep, sweet, figgy, and woody.
2. Super Assam - Floral, woody, slightly barn-yard.

[UNS]
1. Irian Jaya Select - Slightly sweet and woody safe oud.
2. Merauke - A mud cloth Merauke oud that is sweeter than Oriscent's Purple Papua.

[Oud Line]
1. Malinau - Sweet and Potent Indoniesian oud.
2. Crassna - Cambodi oud that is sweet and plummy with lots of depth and woodiness.

[Oudhasi]
1. Assam Flora - The awesome bottle in the middle!

not pictured:

[Bolisat Distillery]
1. Enfleurage - Laotian barnyard and woody.

[Agarscents]
1. Agarscents Malaysian Brown
2. Kupang Steamed

[Arabian Oud]
1. Arabian Oud Cambodi Muattak

For company, I also got some attars from Amouage:
Homage (30ml) and Bahjah plus Al Andalus in 12ml.

I was planning to get Al Mas, Asrar, and Tribute as well -- but I will be out of money for a while.

Arriving later will be ASAQ's Khaltat Makkah, As Shammeya, and hopefully some Khaltat Qurashi or Sheikh Zuheer. Can I afford Kalakassi / Thaqeel? Nope!

PART 2: Western Things

Serge Lutens Fourreau Noir (pending arrival)
Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist (pending arrival)
Serge Lutens Tubereuse Criminelle
Serge Lutens Borneo 1834
Serge Lutens Santal Blanc

Tom Ford Noir de Noir (which is now shared with my girlfriend)


and last but not least...

5 bottles of Bombay Sapphire Infusion! (at 12$ a bottle shipped, why not?)




I am a big fan of Bombay Sapphire, so my opinion WILL be quite biased.

Made by Geza Schoen, the dude who created most of the Clive Christian scents that also decided to bottle and sell diluted ISO E Super for uninformed or lazy customers, Infusion feels like the essence of Bombay Sapphire. It smells very natural for what it costs. I love how the juniper berry, lemon 'tonic' accord, pale almonds, and light spices work together to conjure the gin. Subpar longevity, but overall a very admirable scent and worth a try!

It's excellent stuff n'est-ce pas? I have 2 of the smooth and one of the ribbed pyramid bottles. If anyone ever wanted to know of one scent originally marketed as a fem that works great for any guy (IMHO) this is the one!

Wow Moltening! I'm lovin' ur collection mate! But I'm a "Western" fragrance kind of guy, given I've been around Arabian ouds and whatnot my whole life LoL! What do you think of Fourreau Noir? It's the only Lutens I haven't tried!